About Genting Highland

2,000 meters above sea level, Genting Highlands, a magnificent city on the hilltop, is but a mere 50km from Kuala Lumpur. It offers a cool respite from the hustle and bustle of the city capital. Crisp invigorating mountain air complemented by majestic scenery spreads out before your eyes. Lush green tropical rainforest shrouded in a veil of perpetual mist makes it hard to believe that you are just minutes away from the sweltering equatorial heat and the ever dusty city. Here, consistent temperatures between 16 and 23 degrees provide natural air conditioning.
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Genting Highlands Resort offers the bountiful harvest of nature together with a staggering potpourri of international standard facilities. Besides the cool air and scenic surroundings, this hilltop city also houses the country's one and only casino. However, one should not underestimate its value as this casino has been featured in many films produced by Hong Kong, Taiwan, and even Hollywood. Besides the casino, this hilltop resort also has a theme park of its own and an entertainment center.

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Indonesia Highland - Tana Toraja Celebes Higlands

at Jakarta Reference -

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Casino De Genting
Malaysia's very own gaming paradise is one of the leading and more famous casinos. It boasts of the latest modern gaming facilities. In successfully courting lady luck, many a winner has walked away with broad smiles on their faces (despite the fact that many Chinese believe its building structure, which is rumored to symbolize that of a coffin, carries bad luck).
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A staggering choice of slot machines and table games beckon the strong hearted. Those who prefer a little exclusivity can become members of the International Room and enjoy the privilege of gaming in privacy and plush surroundings. Special guests of the casino are treated to the VIP room.
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Jakarta Reference -

Backpackers' place in Jakarta, Going Places in Jakarta

at http://jakarta-reference.blogspot.com

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Frills and Thrills on the Hills
A fantasyland of wild and thrilling adventure awaits the bold at both the indoor and outdoor Theme Park. There are seemingly endless choices of amusements to entertain people of all ages. In the wild outdoors, whoosh down a roller-coaster perched at the edge of the mountain! Dive, plunge, and escalate on the Corkscrew. Take the tranquil Boat Ride, Monorail, Skyway, Main Train and Antique Cars around the man-made lake and enjoy the ingenious landscaping. Adventure through the Jurassic age in the Land of That Time Forgot, speed around the Grand Prix Circuit, venture into the Pirate Train, and try the many, many other attractions…
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Genting Theater Restaurant
Treat yourself to international shows from all over the world at the Genting Theater Restaurant. Enjoy a scrumptious dinner while feasting your eyes on pretty dancers from Las Vegas, mysterious magicians, and world famous singers. Party goers can boogie all night long at the Big Rock Disco Café.
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Golf and Horse Riding
For the avid golfer, the cool air pushes you further to accept the challenge of finishing the course. Many pleasant alternatives such as horse riding and trekking also beckons to those who wish to soak in the wealth of the tropical rainforest.

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Jakarta Accomodation - Daily cheap apartment? Daily boarding house?
at http://indonesia-sewa.blogspot.com
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My experience is to reccomend you to use sky train to go there, its really nice and trhilling experience for me who never on a sky train before. To save cost you should use this transportation to reach the highland. But if you bring a big luggage, or bag, the queuing will kills you.

About Sky Tower, Singapore

Singapore's Tallest Viewing Tower

Located at Sentosa, Singapore's tallest observatory tower offers panoramic views at 131 metres above sea level across Singapore, Sentosa, Southern Islands, right up to neighboring Malaysia and the Indonesian islands.The Sky Tower has a capacity of 72 in its enclosed, air-conditioned cabin. The day and night views from the tower promise to be both scenic and breathtaking.Suitable for all ages, the Sky Tower is a key point of interest and forms a distinctive landmark as it gently revolves to a viewing height of almost 50 stories above the surrounding natural greenery. It also overlooks the upcoming Resorts World at Sentosa.

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Sky Tower Operations
Sky Tower Pte Ltd is a development conceived by Melchers Project Management Pte Ltd.Melchers Project Management, being the managing shareholder of Sky Tower Pte Ltd, runs the daily operations of the Sky Tower in close co-operation with Sentosa Leisure Group (SLG). SLG is Sky Tower's Operations, Marketing, Sales and Ticketing agent.
Tiger is the name sponsor of the Sky Tower.
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Backpackers' place in Jakarta, Going Places in Jakarta
at http://jakarta-reference.blogspot.com
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Construction of the Sky Tower

The Sky Tower is manufactured by HUSS Maschinenfabrik of Bremen, Germany, and was fabricated within 6 months at HUSS's factory in Europe. Construction of the Tower in Singapore was completed in 12 weeks. The Sky Tower opened to public on 7 February 2004.
Quick Sky Tower Facts
Tower height: 110m
View height: 131m from sea level, almost 50 storeys high
Tower column diameter: 2.5m
Foundation diameter: 15m
Cabin capacity: 72 persons
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The Sky Tower is Ideal for:
Independent / Leisure Visitors
Tour Groups
Business and Incentive Visitors
Schools & Community Centres
Corporate Entertainment – Weddings, Launch Parties, Events and More
All Ages

Sentosa Island

A slice of paradise right in our doorstep, Sentosa offers a kaleidoscope of attractions and activities. Once you step afoot the island, be mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the lush greenery peppered with exciting attractions that will certainly blow you away! It’s a themed attraction, tropical resort, nature park and heritage centre all rolled into one!

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Sand and Sea

Stretching 3.2km long, soak up the sun along Sentosa’s sun-kissed beaches while engaging in various sports activities or simply chilling out at beachfront bars/pubs. Siloso Beach, dubbed Singapore’s Hippest Beach is the perfect spot for the young and restless.

Palawan Beach serves a platter of fun sports and activities for the whole family! With amenities easily within reach, it’s no wonder why it is called Singapore’s Happiest Family Beach! Take a stroll with your family to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia via the suspension bridge or bring the kids to the delightful Animal & Bird Encounters which is sure to entertain. Diehard romantics will love Tanjong Beach for their unbeatable ambience and tranquility. Spend quality time with your special someone with a quiet stroll on Singapore’s Most Romantic Beach and bask in the magnificent sunset. .

Info-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jakarta Reference -
Backpackers' place in Jakarta, Going Places in Jakarta

at http://jakarta-reference.blogspot.com

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Nature 101

Nature beckons everywhere on Sentosa – keep a lookout for friendly peacocks, monkeys and squirrels. Take a walk at the Nature Walk/Dragon Trail through a secondary rainforest and stop by the vantage point on the summit of Mount Imbiah for a scenic view of the neighbouring islands. For an up close encounter with Mother Nature’s creations, head down to Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon to meet the friendly pink dolphins and other exciting ocean life. Or admire over 2,500 butterflies from over 50 species and unusual insects like the man-face bugs, stick insects, giant millipedes, scorpions and rhino beetles at the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom.
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Singapore Past and Present

Built in the 1880s, Fort Siloso served as the last bastion of the British forces during the Japanese invasion of Singapore. Explore the other historical enclave on top Mt Imbiah where the remains of a former battery lie.
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Learn about Singapore’s war years, its colourful culture and vibrant heritage at the three-part Images of Singapore, re-told through life-size figures, animatronics and special effects.
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Imbiah Lookout – A first stop for fun seekers

Sentosa’s newest activity zone is a fun filled stop, home to Singapore’s biggest attractions! Imbiah Lookout is the stop for fun filled activities where everything is just a mere 7 minutes apart. From the Sentosa Luge & Skyride to the famous panoramic Sky Tower and the Images of Singapore, you will be spoilt for choice on how to spend your day.

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Standing 37 metres tall is The Merlion, which offers a breathtaking view of Sentosa, Singapore’s skyline and the surrounding islands from two viewing decks. If going vertical is your aim, then visit the sky tower which takes up to 72 people in its cosy, air-conditioned cabin for a seven-minute ride.

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Tickle your senses with Sentosa 4D Magix for that truly interactive experience! This state-of-the-art theatre offers you a whole new generation of movie magic complete with surround sound, individually-controlled motion seats and special “live” environmental effects such as water spray and leg ticklers! And try out CineBlast, Asia’s first and only experiential cinema ride!

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For a unique experience, let Sentosa Luge & Skyride exhilarate as you race down a 650km track! Part go-cart, part-toboggan, it is a fun-filled gravity ride that is safe for all ages. Once is never enough! So make sure you take a leisurely ride back to the top on the Skyride as it transports you through a scenic 320m long tree-top ride with.
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Backpackers' place in Jakarta, Going Places in Jakarta
at http://jakarta-reference.blogspot.com
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Spa Indulgence

Immerse yourself in the rich tranquility of Sentosa’s finest spa retreats, a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Get ready to indulge yourself with state-of-the-art facilities at Spa Botanica, a luxurious five-star resort, or de-stress yourself at the Health Club & Spa which houses a private yet open air garden that perches over a fish pond and a waterfall! For a truly unique and revitalizing experience, dip your feet at the Fish Reflexology, Underwater World and get a pedicure from a school of Turkish spa fish followed by a therapeutic foot pampering session by a qualified foot reflexologist.
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Night Life

Stroll down the Merlion Walk, a 120-metre-long Gaudi-inspired mosaic walkway lined with colourful mosiac water jets!Join Oscar and his friends as they embark on an enchanted adventure at Songs of the Sea! Located conveniently by the Sentosa Express Beach Station, this spectacular world-class show comprising of dramatic effects, jets of water, bright lasers, bursts of fires and foot-tapping music is sure to transport you into another dimension where all things magical come to life!

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Staying on the Island

With a range of accommodation options (The Sentosa Resort & Spa, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort, Siloso Beach Resort, Treasure Resort and Costa Sands Resort), Sentosa caters to all budgets and preferences. A wide selection of food and beverage facilities is readily available on the island while Sentosa’s buses and trams provide easy islandwide access.

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With the recent launch of Amara Sanctuary Resort in Sentosa, which is secluded in the lush greens of the island’s tropical garden, it offers an exotic and exclusive stay for its guest. Be it for leisure, business or just a retreat away from the hectic city life.

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Transportation

There are 3 ways to enter Sentosa, each bringing a different experience. The newest addition of which is the air-conditioned Sentosa Express. This 140 million infrastructure investment is the island’s biggest investment till date. This integral project is part of a strategy to enhance the transportation system within Sentosa, so that easy accessed can be available from all corners of Sentosa.

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Entering the island via the cable car would be an interesting experience like never before, as you get a picturesque glimpse of the city from above.Be greeted with the smiles from our friendly shuttle bus drivers as they bring you around Sentosa. This is the most convenient form of transportation which takes you around Sentosa. Be sure to hop on the island bus!

South Korea

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) forms the southern part of the Korean peninsula in East Asia. The only country with direct borders on South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north. To the east, South Korea borders on the Japanese Sea, with the Korean strait to the south and the Yellow Sea in the west.

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Geography and climate: the mountainous country consists mainly of mountains covered in forests in the east and uninhabited, flat, fertile plains in the west and the south. Korea is in a temperate climate zone with the usual four seasons also experienced in north and central European countries. The only exceptions are the southern coasts and the island of Jeju-Do, which tend to be in a subtropical climate zone as well as the mountains where a high mountain climate prevails.

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Mountains and rivers: the highest mountain in the country is the extinct volcano Halla-San, with an altitude of 1,950 m (6,397 ft) on the subtropical island of Jeju-Do, that is located 85 km off the Korean mainland. The highest mountain on the mainland is the Jirisan with 1,915 m (6,282 ft). There are four large rivers in the country, the Nakdonggang (length: 525 km) being the longest of these.

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Language and communication: the official and national language is Korean. English and Japanese are also understood in the cities and tourist resorts. Health and vaccinations: vaccination against hepatitis A, typhoid, diphtheria, polio and tetanus is recommended. Long clothing should be worn to provide protection against mosquitoes and other insects, and a locally purchased insect repellent should also be used. Medical care is good in all larger cities and the tourist resorts. Visitors are advised to take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance that covers repatriation costs. A first aid kit should be packed and fruit and vegetables peeled or boiled before being eaten

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Entry requirements: British citizen passport holders may enter South Korea as a tourist for up to 90 days without needing a visa. Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival and you should be in possession of an onward ticket. Visas are required for all other purposes. Please contact the nearest South Korean Diplomatic Mission before you travel for information on entry requirements for other purposes. Those with all other types of British passport should also contact the South Korean Diplomatic Mission before travelling about visa requirements. Some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country. For further information on exact requirements at immigration please contact the South Korean Diplomatic Mission.

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Arrival and onward journey: South Korea is easily accessible by air from all parts of the earth. Many scheduled airlines such as Lufthansa (LH) and Korean air fly from Europe to Seoul (SEL) daily. In South Korea there are good domestic flights for example Pu San (PUS), Daegu (TAE), Cheju (CJU) or Ulsan (USN) either with the national airline Korean Air or with Asiana Airlines (OZ) (Star Alliance).

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Capital city: Seoul is the capital of South Korea and, until the partition in 1948, was also the capital of the entire peninsula. Counting the greater city area, Seoul has a total of 22 million inhabitants. Almost 45 % of the Korean population live and work in the metropolitan area of Seoul and it thereby forms the third largest city in the world after Tokyo and Mexico City. The hill Namsam in the centre of the city provides a good view of the size of the city. It is popular with day trips for the local population and the summit may be reached either by foot or by using the cable car. There is a television tower on top of the hill, which is the landmark of the city and offers breathtaking views of the skyline of this cultural and financial metropolis. Any tour of the city should also include a visit to the Changdokkung Palace that has been used for festivities by the Korean royal family since the 17th century. The main gate, the oldest in the city and the south gate: Namdaemun that was built in 1448 and regarded as South Korea’s penultimate historical building, are a must on any tourist trail. The pagoda at the east gate, dating back to 1348, is also worth a visit. The hill Gwankasan is a significant recreational area close to the city for the local population of Seoul. There are several hiking paths in the surrounding area. An entire afternoon should be planned to fully explore the area.

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Places of interest and beaches: the cultural and historical highlight of any South Korea trip is a visit to Kyongju on the south coast. The town is about 330 km from Seoul and is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The UNESCO considers the place to be one of the ten most important cultural and historical sites for humanity. Until the year 935 AD Kyongju was the capital of several dynasties for almost 1000 years and at that time was one of the largest cities on earth. The enormous number of important architectural monuments has given the city the nickname “museum without walls”. Many temples, ancient graves of kings and the oldest planetarium in Asia today bear testimony to the city’s former glory and significance. Bulguksa temple, located outside the city is also of interest: it is one of the most important Buddhist sites of South Korea. A further attraction are the Sokurram caves that accommodate a massive statue of the Buddha. The Tripitaka Koreana in the Haein temple built in 1448 is another highlight. This is considered a significant cultural asset throughout the world. It consists of 81,200 inscribed wooden blocks and is the most extensive Buddhist canon in the world. This invaluable cultural asset has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1995. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Seokguram cave on the mountain of Tahoamsan. An impressive statue of the Buddha dating back to the 8th century is to be found there in a stone temple.The towns of Haeundae and Songjang on the south coast of Korea are recommended for beach holidays. The climate in the area is subtropical and the white sandy beaches are the most popular destinations for South Koreans. Skiing and snowboarding is also possible in the southern mountains. Winter sports are popular amongst South Koreans. The southern mountains are also the site of the three large national parks Soraksan, Odaesan and Chuwangsan, all easily accessible form the coastal road.

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Religion: about 46 % of South Koreans consider themselves without confession, 25 % are Christian and a further 25% are Buddhist. There is also a small minority of Confucians and Muslims.

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Major Cities and accommodation: Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, Inchon, Kwangju and Taejeon.

Kinabalu Park

Kinabalu Park, the entrance to Mt Kinabalu, is located at 1,585 metres above sea level and is the main starting point for the summit trail that leads to the top of Mt Kinabalu. Its covers an area of 754 sq km and is made up of Mount Kinabalu, Mount Tambayukon and the foothills.

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It was gazetted to preserve this valuable natural environment. The mountains have a fascinating geological history, taking 'just' a million years to form. The mighty Mount Kinabalu is actually a granite massif that was later thrust upwards through the crust of the surface.

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Subsequent erosion removed thousands of feet of the overlying sand and mud stone, exposing this massif. During the Ice Age, glaciers running across the summit smoothed it out, but the jagged peaks that stood out above the ice surface remained unaffected, retaining the extremely ragged surfaces. This rugged mountain is the focal point of the National Park.

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Key Tips
If you plan to climb the mountain, be sure to bring a head torch for the early morning climb to the summit which starts in utter darkness and cold weather gear. The summit temperatures have been known to dip to below freezing! Climbing Mt Kinabalu is a different experience for each person, but what makes most people succeed above all, is perseverance.

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How to get there
By Taxi Car rentals can be arranged through major hotels in Kota Kinabalu. Taxis go to Park HQ at Ranau and take a maximum of four passengers. You can negotiate for the taxi to pick you up from Park HQ for your return if you hire the whole taxi. By BusAll express and minibuses between Kota Kinabalu and Ranau or Sandakan pass the park turn-off, from where it is just 100m to the Park HQ.
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Who to contact
For more information about Kinabalu Park, kindly contact their office at (+6088) - 211 881 or (+6088) - 212 719. You could also visit their website at http://www.sabahparks.org.my/ Tourism Malaysia Sabah also could provide some information about this place by contacting them at (+6088) -248 698 / 211 732 / 447075
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Accommodation Overview
Accommodation at Kinabalu Park range from hostels to resorts.

Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC

The 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, otherwise known as KLCC the world's tallest twin structures. Located in the heart of the capital city, the crown of the Kuala Lumpur contains a complex of office buildings, conference halls, a sprawling park and an upmarket shopping complex.

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Inspired by the geometric shape found in Islamic architecture, this gleaming mega-structure was designed by Argentinian-American architect Cesar Pelli.
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Stretching out to one side of this architectural masterpiece is the spacious and beautifully landscaped KLCC Park. Other attractions at KLCC are Suria Shopping Complex, Petronas Philharmonic Hall, Petrosains Science Centre, Petronas Art Gallery and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, where The Aquaria Oceanarium is situated.

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Key Tips
Visiting the sky bridge is a great experience, it is open to visitors between 8.30am - 5.00pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

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How to get there
By Foot or TaxiThe Petronas Twin Towers are in between Jalan Ampang and Jalan Raja Chulan. It is also next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and opposite The Ascott.By TrainThe KLCC station is on the PUTRA LRT line.
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Who to contact
For more information, please go to: www. suriaklcc.com.my
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Accommodation Overview
Kuala Lumpur offers a full range of accommodation, from basic backpacker's hostels to 5-star hotels.

Jakarta Backpacker's Tourist Place - Jalan Jaksa

As all backpacker districts, Jalan Jaksa is home to many bars and cafes where travellers can let their uncombed hair down. There are about 5 places that serve as restaurants during daytime and turn into cafes at night.

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Jalan Jaksa on a Saturday night attracts a lively crowd of backpackers, locals and expats, intermingling in every possible way. Locals mostly see Jalan Jaksa as their way out of the somewhat restricted environment of Indonesian society and as a perfect place to spot foreign girls. Expats seem to have the same agenda, but their target being Indonesian girls.

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On the south side we have the Romance café, a dark tinted small place where indeed romance is the last thing one would expect to happen. Ya Udah, the popular bistro is a quieter place for a beer, opened til 02.00 on weekends and charging 16.000 for a large Bintang
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Further down the road on the right side a dodgy dark place that goes by the name of Ali's bar is mostly frequented by Africans in town for ‘business'.

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Next to that the Memories café is a boisterous two storey bar with life music and a crowd to match. There's a lot of dancing and screaming going on til late so people seem to enjoy themselves here.
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On the opposite of the street BFC café and bar is one of the best options, spurring an outside terrace with nice lighting. Beers are around 15.000 Rp. And simple meals are served all night long. Inside there's a pool table and some less cozy seating arrangements.

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At the end of Jalan Jaksa there's a popular café called Absolut Bar, with a more neutral atmosphere, a mixed crowd and a large collection of booze behind the bar. It actually consists of two small storeys, and on the top floor they squeezed a pool table in, so the place fills up fast, and the temperature increases with every visitor.
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Jalan Jaksa's nightlife is neither classy nor very special. By day it already has a slightly seedy atmosphere and by night, this only seems to get worse. It is however the perfect opportunity to meet up with other travelers and locals so put on your dancing shoes and trot off to one of the fine establishments this area has to offer.

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Apart from hotels Jalan Jaksa has several places to get some decent grub for small cash. Although most places serve standard backpackers fare and Europeanized Indonesian food, portions are big and have more comfortable sitting arrangements than the street side warungs.
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Ya Udah on Jalan Jaksa No. 49 is a Swiss run bistro with an interesting menu offering both Indonesian dishes as Swiss rosti and a section called ‘sausage eldorado' with a list of, you guessed it, sausages ranging from French merguez to German frankfurters . It also has a small bakery near the entrance with homemade pies and whole wheat bread. A light and airy place with friendly service and moderate prices.(breakfasts at Rp. 20.000-30.000 and mains at Rp. 30.000-40.000)

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Pappa's on Jalan Jaksa No. 41a is a dark and scruffy establishment that features loud music, uninterested staff and watery curries. The atmosphere is further enlightened by the loitering Indonesian girls and their middle-aged foreign ‘friends'. (curries from Rp. 16.000-25.000)
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Memories on No. 17a has a similar menu, but has a slightly better décor. It has two floors and at night transforms into a popular café, with a rough raunchy ambiance. Expect the same clientele as Pappa's, prices are slightly higher.

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Next door's Margot Café is part of the hotel of the same name. It is one of the most popular digs in the neighbourhood and is good enough for simple breakfasts and snacks. This place as well serves as a crowded bar at night.
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Jasa Bundo is a padang restaurant with the typical décor of plates displayed in the front window and white tiles with simple tables and chairs. The food however is excellent, especially the spicy shrimps and terong (aubergine). Too bad prices are steep, even for padang food standards, which usually is more expensive than regular Indonesian food.

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If you want the real thing and think your stomach can handle it, there's an excellent warung called Miraos at Jalan HA Salim, parallel to Jalan Jaksa on the way to Sarinah mall. It is packed during lunchtime with office workers lining up for a quick bite before returning to work. You choose the dishes by pointing them out and have to remember what you got on your plate because payment is afterwards and they rely on your memory to create the bill. Prices are cheap; expect to have a full plate for around Rp. 10.000
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Finally, for those who are tired of the Jalan Jaksa ambiance (how could you ever?) there's a recently opened restaurant on Jalan KH Wahid Hasyim No. 87 with a gado gado to die for. It is called Gado Gado Boplo and both the smart interior as the food is excellent. Prices are comparable or even cheaper to those in Jalan Jaksa, but the food is way better and the change of environment is refreshing to say the least. (mains Rp. 11.000-20.000)